What does TCU loss mean for Ohio State, Alabama’s College Football Playoff hopes?
By John Buhler
TCU falling for the first time this season in the Big 12 Championship Game vs. Kansas State could impact Ohio State and potentially Alabama’s chances of making it into the College Football Playoff.
And then there were only two undefeated teams left in major college football…
Despite a valiant effort by Heisman Trophy hopeful Max Duggan, the TCU Horned Frogs came up three points shy of maintaining perfection vs. the Kansas State Wildcats in the Big 12 Championship Game. Win or lose, Kansas State was heading to the Sugar Bowl. Although TCU’s chances of making the playoff are still strong even with a loss, people love debating things, alright.
So what does this mean for teams like Ohio State and Alabama who are not playing this weekend?
What does TCU loss mean for Ohio State’s College Football Playoff hopes?
Although Ohio State was probably in line to make the four-team field after USC suffered its second loss of the season in the Pac-12 Championship Game vs. Utah, TCU falling for the first time this year gives the Buckeyes an even stronger notion that they are getting in. However, they are not going to be any higher than the No. 3 seed, even if they were to somehow surpass TCU…
Assuming No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Michigan take care of business in their respective conference championship games, Ohio State will probably end up facing Georgia in the Peach Bowl in their national semifinal game. If Georgia loses to LSU and Michigan beats Purdue, then the Buckeyes could face the Wolverines again in an immediate rematch for them, possibly in the Fiesta Bowl?
Ohio State may have suffered a blowout home loss to Michigan, but this will be a top-four team.
What does TCU loss mean for Alabama’s College Football Playoff hopes?
When it comes to Alabama, TCU losing by a field goal in overtime in a rematch from the regular season to Kansas State does not help the Crimson Tide at all. Had the Horned Frogs been blown out by the Wildcats, then maybe there was some chance for the Crimson Tide to sneak its way into the No. 4 spot. However, two losses by four points is still worst than one loss by only three.
The big key here is this. The Selection Committee is not going to punish TCU for playing an extra game it lost by only one score, when compared to an Alabama team that did not even win its own division. Chaos needed to be ridiculously in Alabama’s favor for the Crimson Tide to have a shot at getting in. Unfortunately, Alabama will have to settle for playing Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl…
Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State should be getting in with only seeding left to be decided.
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